People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok [Yonhap]
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok [Yonhap]

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok on Thursday criticized President Lee Jae Myung, saying Lee had "publicly pledged to respond to threats to public life with what might even seem like an excessive response, yet in reality has shown an excessive degree of indifference and inaction."

Speaking at a supreme council meeting at the National Assembly, Jang said Lee had "posted a few lines on social media when a North Korean landmine exploded and then left for the United States, was on a golf course while a Navy sailor went missing and died, and played golf with his family even as a shopping arcade ceiling collapsed and injured 38 elderly people," according to Yonhap.

Jang also said that when a horrific stabbing in Incheon left the public gripped by fear and a victim underwent emergency surgery fighting for her life, "President Lee was taking selfies while watching 'Buchang-i'" — a reference to a shark exhibit. "If the president had not been briefed by then, Cheong Wa Dae was out of its mind; if he had been briefed and was still smiling and wandering around, the president was out of his mind," Jang said.

Jang went on to say that Lee had "boasted about building a system that puts life and safety first, yet now makes the bizarre claim that a golf course counts as a presidential workplace." He added, "When the public is in danger, a golf round must stop, and when people are dying, you must not go watch sharks."

"The president's greatest duty is to protect public safety," Jang said. "If he lacks both the ability and the will to do so, he should step down from that position."

Jang also addressed Wednesday's confirmation hearing at the National Assembly for Kim Ji-yong, nominee to head the Agency for Serious Crimes Investigation, calling it "an absurd hearing that amounted to nothing more than vetting one of their own." He said Kim "put on a tearful show of self-denial, appealing for recognition of his loyalty," adding that "the public security concerns actually worrying citizens received no attention at all."

Jang said the agency was "in effect sitting idle, leaving criminals to run free while victims live in fear," and noted that there was no justice minister in place and that the heads of the Korean National Police Agency and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials remained acting chiefs. He said President Lee's insistence on keeping "compliant acting officials ready to drop charges" would before long leave the presidency itself operating under an acting arrangement.


husn7@heraldcorp.com